Police identify Portland man who fell 80 feet to his death on city street

PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police have identified the man found dead Sunday in Free Street after what investigators believe was an 80-foot fall from a nearby parking garage.

Portland police Lt. James Sweatt issued a statement Monday afternoon saying the individual was David Thorne, 54, of Portland.

Sweatt also said investigators believe it’s highly unlikely the man was pushed from the upper floors of the One City Center parking garage. In his afternoon statement, Sweatt said the death is not considered suspicious, indicating police believe it was a likely suicide.

“Witnesses reported seeing Mr. Thorne sitting on the top of the parking garage with his legs hanging over the barrier,” Sweatt said.

Thorne died as a result of what police believe was an 80-foot fall from the upper floors of the parking garage at approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday. He landed on Free Street, just a block southeast from the high-traffic Monument Square.

The street was closed for more than two hours Sunday afternoon while authorities investigated the scene and sought clearance from the state medical examiner’s office to remove the body.